1199 Members Demand Justice for Grace Alexander, Shut Down Bank of America Branch

January 30, 2013

Braving freezing temperatures and determined to make their voices heard, dozens of 1199SEIU members, community allies, and elected officials marched on the Bank of America branch at Harborside Financial Center in Jersey City on Thursday morning.

The group converged on the bank to support 1199 member and Newark resident Grace Alexander, whose home is being foreclosed on. Grace has been asking that Bank of America agree to a principal write-down on her mortgage so that she can remain in the home she has lived in for over 12 years. So far the bank has refused to negotiate with her, so 1199 members decided to take action.

As a certified nursing assistant who works at a nursing home, Grace works tirelessly to ensure that her elderly and disabled residents have a healthy and caring environment to call home. Yet Grace says that Bank of America is attempting to throw her out of hers. “They’ve been giving me the runaround for two years now,” said Grace. “I have a job. I can pay a mortgage. But they don’t want my money, they want my house. I’ve tried every which way to save my home, but Bank of America would rather kick me onto the streets than to work with me.”The crowd kicked-off the rally outside before deciding to take their message straight to the bank’s office inside the Harborside Financial Center. Singing “Amazing Grace” and chanting “The people, united, will never be defeated,” the group made its way through the revolving doors and past bewildered building managers. Spirited singing and chanting lasted for several minutes until it was certain that the bank executives heard their message loud and clear.

Elected officials who came out to support Grace made a commitment to schedule hearings on the issue of New Jersey’s ongoing foreclosure crisis to help uncover mortgage fraud and other illegal lending practices by big banks. New Jersey currently has the second highest foreclosure rate in the United States, at more than twice the national average.

Attending the event were Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy, Jersey City Councilors Diane Coleman, Rolando Lavarro Jr., Viola Richardson, and Steven Fulop, and Newark Councilman Ron Rice Jr.

Bank Of America posted a sign on their front door after the rally ended notifying the public that the branch was now "closed due to circumstances beyond our control." But the truth is, if Bank of America treated people like Grace with the respect and compassion they deserve, the bank wouldn't have concerned 1199ers showing up at its doorstep to demand justice.